OYSTEE AND MUSSEL REPORT. 125 



in Scotland than in France. Then it is said that our 

 colder seas do not favour so abundant a deposit of spat, 

 and do not yield such abundant nourishment to the 

 growing mussels as do those of the south. This I think 

 has still to be proved. The spat deposited on some of 

 our beds and other parts of the shore in our own district 

 and on any submarine objects in any way resembling 

 bouchots, such as pieces of wreckage, stakes, piers, stems 

 of large seaweeds, &c, is most abundant, indicating that 

 there is no want of the free-swimming embryos prepared 

 to settle down upon any suitable foundation ; and in 

 regard to the nourishment of the adult it seems to me 

 that our mussels are quite as large and well formed in 

 every way as those I saw in France. I therefore see no 

 reason from the biological point of view why the bouchot 

 system of mussel culture should not be a success in our 

 district, but it is quite possible that it might not be worth 

 while, financially, to start it except in places where from 

 local conditions it is impossible or difficult to grow the 

 mussels in beds. 



Les Sables d'Olonne. 

 Les Sables is a favourite seaside resort, and centre of 

 oyster culture, situated close to Pointe de l'Aiguille about 

 halfway bet ween the mouth of the Gironde and that of 

 the Loire. It is in an exposed situation, but behind the 

 harbour there is a large artificial lake which reminds one 

 of the basin at Arcachon, although it is of course much 

 smaller (about 160 acres), and has well-built sloping 

 walls round its edge. A considerable part of this 

 area of shallow sea-water is devoted to oyster culture, 

 and is divided off into pares, which however are only for 

 elevage, the young oysters being brought from Arcachon 

 or Auray in Brittany. The bottom of the pares is rather 



